Page 152 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

GAMEBIRDS
Order Galliformes Family Phasianidae Species Alectoris rufa
Red-legged Partridge grey-
white stripe
below cap brown
cap
straight, stiff streaked foreneck
wings
plain, pale brown
upperparts
white chin red
bill
rufous
tail
IN FLIGHT
black line
dark red- around
brown tail white face,
speckled
breast
FLIGHT: runs more than flies; wings straight, stiff,
beating rapidly between flat-winged glides.
red legs
black, brown,
his neat, colourful, and attractive partridge is and blue-grey
Tseriously threatened by irresponsible introductions barred flanks
of other species within its range, producing a mixed
hybrid population. Close views are required to rule
out Red-legged Chukar hybrids which are widespread
in England. In their native range, Red-legged STAYING CLOSE
Partridges are quite elusive birds of warm, open, stony Family groups of Red-
legged Partridges
slopes and fields; in the UK, they prefer light soils in walk slowly over open
arable areas. Red-legged Partridges can often be seen ground or sit together
perched on haystacks, barns, and farm buildings. inconspicuously in
VOICE Deep, gobbling and hissing or chuckling short stubble.
mechanical calls, chuk-uk-ar,
k’chuk-ar, k’chuk-ar.
NESTING Grass-lined hollow
scrape on ground beneath
low vegetation; 7–20 eggs;
1 brood;April–June.
FEEDING Eats leaves, shoots, DRINKING PARTY
berries, acorns, and seeds, Temporary pools attract
including beech-mast family groups to drink
picked up from ground; and bathe after rain in
chicks eat insects. otherwise dry areas. OCCURRENCE
Resident in Portugal, Spain, France,
SIMILAR SPECIES N Italy, and introduced in UK.
Breeds on ground in places that
CHUKAR orange have open slopes with scattered
see p.418 face aromatic shrubs and much bare,
plain stony, or sandy ground; in arable
paler breast areas with dry, sandy fields; and
less commonly on grassy heaths
CAMOUFLAGE and coastal dunes.
Despite the bright patterns of this,
GREY PARTRIDGE the prettiest partridge, it is well Seen in the UK
see p.151 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
camouflaged in most situations.
Length 32–34cm (12 1 ⁄2 –13 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 45–50cm (18–20in) Weight 400–550g (14–20oz)
Social Family groups Lifespan Up to 6 years Status Vulnerable
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